Poison Arrow Poison Arrow ((Poison DartsPoison Darts)) FrogsFrogs

Poison Arrow Frogs (also called Poison Poison Arrow Frogs (also called Poison Dart Frogs) are small, brightly-colored Dart Frogs) are small, brightly-colored rainforest frogs that have extremely rainforest frogs that have extremely poisonous skin. They have glands in the poisonous skin. They have glands in the skin that produce strong toxins. Their skin that produce strong toxins. Their poison is used by some South American poison is used by some South American

Indians onIndians on

the tips of the tips of

their hunting their hunting

arrows and arrows and

blow-gun blow-gun

darts. darts.

Poison and PredatorsPoison and Predators: The bright coloration of : The bright coloration of the poison arrow frogs warns predators that they the poison arrow frogs warns predators that they are poisonous. Once a predator has even licked a are poisonous. Once a predator has even licked a poison arrow frog, it gets very sick and will never poison arrow frog, it gets very sick and will never try to eat one again. The poison protects them try to eat one again. The poison protects them from most predators from most predators (except the snake (except the snake Leimadophis epinephelusLeimadophis epinephelus, , which is immune to the which is immune to the frog's poison). frog's poison).

HabitatHabitat: Poison Arrow : Poison Arrow Frogs live in tropical Frogs live in tropical rainforestsrainforests of South of South and Central America. and Central America.

DietDiet: Poison Arrow Frogs eat insects and other small : Poison Arrow Frogs eat insects and other small arthropods, catching them with their long, sticky arthropods, catching them with their long, sticky tongue. They eat ants, termites, flies, small beetles, tongue. They eat ants, termites, flies, small beetles, spiders, etc. spiders, etc.

Life cycleLife cycle: Like all amphibians, frogs spend their lives : Like all amphibians, frogs spend their lives near water because they must return to the to lay near water because they must return to the to lay their eggs. their eggs.

Frog eggs are Frog eggs are

laid in the water. laid in the water.

When they hatch When they hatch

into tadpoles, into tadpoles,

they breathe they breathe

with gills and with gills and

swim using a tail. As swim using a tail. As

they mature, they lose their tail, and they develop they mature, they lose their tail, and they develop lungs for breathing air. lungs for breathing air.